You are here

Recycling

In support of the Department's goal of implementing environmental sustainability practices across the complex, all DOE employees and contractors should incorporate the three "R's" of wise resource use as a core principle of their daily activities: reduce, reuse, and recycle.  The Department's recycling program at Headquarters earns monetary credits from the GSA which is then credited to the Sheila Jo Watkins Memorial Child Development Centers for tuition assistance and the purchase of furniture and equipment.

What Can Be Recycled, And Where
What you can recycle Where to recycle
White office paper, printed with any color ink.  Staples are acceptable but paperclips, binder clips, plastic flags, tabs and colored post-it notes must be removed. Receptacles for white office paper are located in office suites and next to copy machines.  Blue collection bins for individual offices may be obtained from the Facilities Management Helpdesk at (202) 586-6100 or by e-mailing:
FORFacOpsHelpdesk@hq.doe.gov or
GTNFacOpsHelpdesk@hq.doe.gov.
 
Newspapers, glass, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans (clean)
 
Receptacles for all of these items are located at or adjacent to each of the elevator banks.
Mixed paper - colored paper, paperboard, used file folders, telephone books.
 
Only in specially provided bulk recycling containers. To obtain the large rolling waste containers for temporary use in or outside a specific office suite contact the Facilities Management Helpdesk at (202) 586-6100 or by e-mailing:
FORFacOpsHelpdesk@hq.doe.gov or
GTNFacOpsHelpdesk@hq.doe.gov.
 
Corrugated cardboard Contact the Facilities Help Desk to arrange a pickup of bulk corrugated cardboard materials.  To obtain the large rolling waste containers for temporary use in or outside a specific office suite contact the Facilities Management Helpdesk at (202) 586-6100 or by e-mailing:
FORFacOpsHelpdesk@hq.doe.gov or
GTNFacOpsHelpdesk@hq.doe.gov.
 
Used toner cartridges In Forrestal, used toner cartridges may be dropped off at the Distribution Center room GL-084.  Used cartridges may also be sent via internal mail.
Batteries Battery recycling containers are located in the Forrestal and Germantown Paperclips Supply Stores.  Batteries accepted for recycling are: Alkaline, Lithium Ion, Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel-Iron, and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH).  Each self service supply store has a cabinet for accepting used batteries of the following sizes: AAA, AA, 9 volt, C, and D.
 
Reusable Office Supplies If you have unneeded office supplies in good condition that can be reused please drop them off at the Freebie table at the Supply Stores.  These supplies can then be reused by others who need them, saving both money as well as the energy that would be used to manufacture new supplies.
 

What You Cannot Recycle

Adhesive tape Padded envelopes
Pressure sensitive labels Food wrappings
Waxy paper Paper cups
Carbon paper Tissues
Rubber bands Three ring binders
Post-It notes Plastic or metal spiral binders
- You may remove the spirals and recycle the rest
Tyvek envelopes Heavy metal fasteners
- Staples and paper clips are permitted

If you have any questions about the recycling program please call:
Forrestal (202) 586-6100
Germantown (301) 903-4005

 

Last updated 04/23/12